Altona Forest — Attraction in Pickering

I like this place, but to be completely honest, there are better (bigger, nicer, wilder, more varied) places nearby if you want to take a walk outside (e.g., Twyn Rivers, Glen Rouge, Greenwood Conservation Area). I would only recommend Altona Forest to someone that has already been to the other places and is looking for something different, smaller, or closer to home.

You know when you go someplace remote and then stop and listen, really hard... and hear nothing but an occasional bird call or rustling varmint in the underbrush? Well, you won't get that at Altona Forest -- you never completely escape the sounds of civilization. No matter how deep you are into this place, you can still hear (or maybe just "feel") the sound of vehicular traffic, of people mowing their lawns, of kids playing in the nearby playgrounds or schoolyards. It is never truly "still".

Also (and this has to be said)... this place is a mess. There are dead trees and limbs everywhere, scattered about haphazardly. Maybe this is the lingering result from previous years' winter storms, or perhaps it's just the normal state of Altona Forest... but if it's possible for a forest to feel "run-down", this is the place.

Really, if you haven't been there already, go to Twyn Rivers, Valley Farm Ravine, or Greenwood Conservation Area. This place will do in a pinch, but the alternatives are much...

Went for a tour with about 20 people. 3 children got ticks including my daughter. Would have gone back if the ticks weren't so bad. Toronto Public Health confirmed it was the type of tick that carries the lyme disease. TPH sent it off for testing to see if the one that bit my daughter carried lyme. Waiting to hear back. Side note, I was worried about ticks so she was dressed in long sleeves, hiking boots, long socks and pants. It was on her back so I guess it fell in from the top of her shirt. Turtle...

We entered the Altona Forest from the West side (opposite Pine Grove rd). The parking was filthy - there were flies on the garbage can which was overflowing with trash and the small parking lot was littered all over. The trail itself is not well maintained in that it is not easily discernible with the wilderness crawling all over, making tough to be on track. Perhaps with some TLC this could be a true forest away...